Analyst: DS could be highest-selling system ever

DS News | What console war?

The handheld war is over, and the DS has won easily. Next-gen.biz reports that, as of mid-January, the DS has sold around 40 million consoles compared to the PSP's 20 million units shipped. So what's next for the little handheld that many didn't believe in? How about - the console war! While the home console war rages on, a clear shift in spending has been noted, and the portable space is now a much larger part of the market. The PSP also figures in the shift toward the portable market, which analysts believe is set to balloon to over $10 billion in 2007.

In a new report by DFC Intelligence entitled 'The Market for Portable Video Games', DFC analyst David Cole claims, “The DS has the potential to be the best-selling interactive entertainment platform ever". Worldwide sales of the DS back up this claim, as the handheld has been the highest-selling platform of any sort in all territories for half a year now, and will actually surpass the PS2's installed base in Japan within months.

Cole notes, “Under the right scenario, by 2011 the combined installed base of the DS and PSP could exceed that for the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360.” While the PSP isn't doing as well as many expected, DFC thinks it could "establish a solid position in the marketplace,” if Sony provides sufficient promotional backing in the coming years.

Related Content

Handhelds get new Star Wars game
18 Aug, 2006 Cue lightsaber noises.

Mizuguchi working on new puzzlers for DS and PSP
07 Jul, 2006 Both inspired by obscure WonderSwan title.

Asterix and Obelix XXL 2 announced
17 Jun, 2006 Coming to both the PSP and the DS.

19 Comments

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

I, for one, welcome our new handheld overlords.

Let's hope this doesn't lead to even less fully fleshed out titles on both the DS and the PSP, which (despite their apparent largee market shares) are still flooded with lots of quick and nasty games.

Joseph

4 years ago

Lately I've even been taking notice of the handhelds. They've got a lot of great games and at cheaper prices to that of Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

Go handhelds!

Nev

4 years ago

Anything's possible... Eventual sales only really depend on how long Nintendo decides to support it. And as long as it's still selling, why wouldn't they?

Flypaper

4 years ago

Quote

(despite their apparent largee market shares) are still flooded with lots of quick and nasty games.

That's kind of the nature of dominant systems, though. Check out the dross on the bottom shelf of any PS2 rack in stores.

emech

4 years ago

With impossible mission, dragon quest VIII Pt 2 (forget what its actually called), pokemon pearl/diamond, marvel Vs trading game and more still on its way DS is certainly the system for me! - although it has to be said thats the DS attempts at 3d are alredy looking dated

Oh and can't forget zelda.....

legend166

4 years ago

Eh, I think it's all dependent on how much Nintendo decides to make. I mean, the DS has been in a shortage in Japan for over a year.

Also, another thing to consider is that Nintendo still hasn't played it's biggest cards yet. There's still Pokemon in western territorries, and DQIX in Japan which will sell like 1000000000 copies.

Capoeira

4 years ago

That man has obviously never heard of the Gizmondo.

You'll see. YOU'LL ALL SEE!!

But then again, go you good thing.

BluntNate

4 years ago

The DS the best selling system evar!!!11 OMG No, no, no, this can't possibly be true I CLEARLY remember dozens, possibly hundreds of sony fanbois posting all over teh internets, insisting that the DS was a "gimmick" and would never catch on.

"the DS has sold around 40 million consoles compared to the PSP's 20 million units shipped. "

I've gone ahead and highlighted two important words here... whenever you see sony figures compared to Nintendo remember sony tell you how many they've SHIPPED (and thus could still be sitting on shelves or in stockrooms or warehouses, unwanted) and Nintendo tell us how many they've SOLD and thus have actually reached the gamers hands.
it's an even bigger difference than the article implies

heh.

Qbert

4 years ago

Pokemon is still not released (outside Japan) so there should be at least another 100 million* DS sales come April.

*Figure may not be entirely accurate.

Joseph

4 years ago

I'm sure the kiddies will be screaming at xmas:

"Mummmmmmmmmmmmyyyyy... I wants a Nintendo DS with pokemon game from santa"
"Which pokoman game?"
"It's pokemon mummy not pokoman. I want the pretty dimond one. the perl one is bader. my friend told me so and he has both versions."

It would be interesting to see a comparison of DS Lite and DS Phat (old) units.

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

Joseph wrote

And we all know where that madness leads...

(sorry... couldn't help myself)

_deadrat

4 years ago

I see lots of people playing their handhelds, mainly ds, on the train in the morning. This is great news imo because handhelds are so much cheaper to support.

ugh the boot

4 years ago

I find the DS quite uncomfortable to hold after about an hour or so (too flat at the back and the unit is overall too thin for extended play), the psp doesn't fare much better but atleast you can have your hands a little bit further apart. It's basically the reason I hardly play them....I like sitting down and relaxing and not constantly having to worry about changing positions so my neck doesn't get sore orgiving my hands a break. It's quite different to playing with a controller because they seem to be desinged with ergonomics in mind instead of style/portability.

Joseph wrote

Lately I've even been taking notice of the handhelds. They've got a lot of great games and at cheaper prices to that of Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

Go handhelds!

On the contrary......I find handheld games WAY over priced! Personally I don't think I should pay more than about $40-$45 ($50 or more only if it's a game I really want) for them but i've been missing out on heaps of great games on the psp and ds because of this. As an example.....last week I bought 4 games.....2 on xbox 360 for $20 each brand new (king kong and burnout revenge), We Love Katamari on Ps2 for $20 and Sonic and the Secret Rings on Wii for $69. Compared to the DS game I bought a couple which was $64 (Portrait of Ruin). So where is it that you're getting these cheap games, cuz i'd really like to know? I'm looking to buy Kirby Squeak Squad, Phoenix Wright, Hotel Room Dusk, Contact and Wario Master of Disguise...so if you know of any places I can get these for quite cheap it would be very helpful. And no ebay....I gotta stay away from that site.

Spanca

4 years ago

ugh + DS = ensuing hilarity

Anyway, I don't think it's fair for you to compare the clearance prices of a few mediocre 360 games to the price of a brand new DS game. That said, I do agree that handheld prices do seem a bit high. The development time and costs aren't even close to being the same, yet the price difference between them (baring in mind most new 360 games can be bought at $80-90 upon release) isn't all that great.

dullestrobert

4 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Is it just me or do you find something to complain about in every positive Nintendo article on the site? That's the most ridiculous complaint I've heard through my entire time on this forum.

Andronicus

4 years ago

dullestrobert wrote

ugh the boot wrote

Is it just me or do you find something to complain about in every positive Nintendo article on the site? That's the most ridiculous complaint I've heard through my entire time on this forum.

He's expressing his opinion - he's allowed to express his opinion.

And it's hardly ridiculous to say that console controllers are deisgned with ergonimcs in mind while handhelds are designed more for portability.
I mean, I think the DS is one of the best video games systems to come out of any console or handheld manufacturer, but I still find it less comfortable after extended periods of play than I do a console controller.

Just throwing in my two cents.

Qbert

4 years ago

WTF, how is ugh's post ridiculous?? Because I'm sure 99% of people would feel that the DS is more comfortable than holding a console controller.

?oe?oe

4 years ago

DS is more comfortable holding it sideways

it justs fits into place. But the design is too square.

LeonJ

4 years ago

DS is 10000% more comfitable then the PSP. I played the PSP for an hour the other day and my fingers were killing me. It's so strict and rigid that thing. DS phat was a little awkard I would agree, but the Lite is great (good to see Ugh back with the DS bashing

)